People you can Trust: Tas Burn

In this series, we're giving you an insight into the people that make RockWave the trusted partner that keeps our clients coming back for more. They are the people you will work with on your seismic project, so it helps if you know something about them before you start. Break the ice, so to speak. Don't forget to collect your RockWaver bobble-head at the end.

1) What specifically about RockWave appealed to you, and what keeps you here?

So the first thing that drew me to apply for a job at RockWave was reading the People page on the website. Everyone seemed really down‑to‑earth, fun, practical, sociable, and just there to make a good go of processing. I guess this is why I felt (moderately) comfortable writing a VERY different job application to what is probably recommended for the majority of companies. It was a little risky, my opening line was “I like rocks and I like waves, specifically body boarding but I don’t mind the occasional seismic.”. Thankfully, they loved it. And since joining I’ve found that my initial impression still holds true. I think they're just a good bunch of people.

I love the autonomy I have, and the projects are really varied. I feel like I’m learning a lot again, especially with the ultra-high res wind farm data. When you start as a graduate you learn loads, then it tapers off, and then suddenly I’m learning again. It’s great, but it’s mad coming from big 3D oil & gas data to UHRS. feels like going back in time, when you’re trying to decipher what has gone on during the survey. Important information sometimes just isn’t available. Like how accurate is the nav?  Why were the amplitudes clipped? What depth was the cable at? Why has the source volume been changed halfway through?? It means there are more educated guesses to make — but I kind of like that, because it constrains you less, makes you think, and you just have to get on with it. There is no choice!

2) On remote working

Best thing about remote working…. Vacumming! Yes, I have a dog with LOTS of hair, so I sort that out on my tea breaks, so that’s good. Ha!

But apart from vacumming, obviously the time saved by not commuting for hours each week means I’m spending more time with the kids. And, honestly, when I used to work in an large office, I wouldn’t speak to some people for a whole month, but here we’re remote from each other yet still manage to meetup once a month for a proper social. Being a small company helps with that.

3) When you’re working on seismic projects, what does “doing a good job” mean in practice?

Quality and timing — and one is useless without the other. You can spend a year making something perfect, but if you miss the boat, it doesn’t matter. pun intended. You need both to meet client expectations. I generally try to avoid going down rabbit holes. Keep the aim of the project in mind — we’re running a business, clients need data to get steel in the ground, we’re not doing PhDs. We need to deliver things in a timely manner.

I also think it’s important to work closely with clients — constant communication, calls to review results as you go, making sure they’re satisfied before moving on. Especially with tougher projects or new ventures like the DWS stuff (N.B RockWave tech to separate point contacts from specular reflections)  — brainstorming with clients can give you great ideas and avoids surprises.

4) Can you think of any standout examples of a time outside geophysics when you experienced exceptional service. 

I was trying to think of one. Maybe my standards are too high, but I can definitely think of a terrible experience. I can’t shake it so this will have to do…

I was having to deal with a management company over a water leak at my parents’ flat. There were so many different people and disjointed procedures just to get someone out. Every time you rang you’d have to explain the problem to someone, they would pass you to someone else. But instead of speaking to their own colleagues and explaining my problem, they’d just chuck me at the next person and I’d have to start the story again! GRRRR!  And then I’d get, “I’ll just try to get through to the manager…” — the same thing someone told me three hours earlier!!!

It took three times longer than it should have, and all the while the water is causing more and more damage. They paid for it (or rather we did through the insurance costs), but still — it's inefficient and made me angry enough to tell you about it months later!

Thankfully, I think this kind of thing is naturally avoided at RockWave because of our experience and autonomy. We’re not bouncing between disjointed teams with poor communication. We avoid that chaos.

5) Desert Island Velocities: If you had a week of velocity picking on a desert island, what one audiobook or podcast and what one album/artist would you bring?

Audiobook: Lonesome Dove.

Artist: Sergei Rachmaninoff

Most people won’t have heard of Lonesome Dove. It’s just a novel involving cowboys and adventure. However this is just for relaxing on this desert island after picking the velocities. I’m not going to be listening to an audiobook whilst picking, I’d just get too distracted by words! I actually really like classical music. But only the sad or deep ones — not the happy ones. Those are just annoying. So, I would have to have Sergei Rachmaninoff, which you might have heard of. Might have to skip ‘Isle of the Dead’ though, or I’d be anxious my stay on this mythical island was going to be longer than I’d be comfortable with.

Read Tas' RockWave profile here.